St Charles County Director of Elections office is in dire need of Democratic Poll Workers for the November 8, 2016 general election. There are 121 polling places within St. Charles County. Election judge is a paid position. If you would like information on becoming an election judge, please contact the office at 636-949-7550. The application form is available at this link : http://www.sccmo.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/5097

Stop by Shady Grove Chill and Grill at 1267 Jungerman Road, St. Peters, MO between 5 – 8 pm on January 21. Join Democrats from all over the county as we kickoff the campaign for the 108th. Ed Shew stands for families, our schools and our seniors. See his platform at his website www.shewforstaterep.com

Message from Ed:

“It’s time for new leadership and I will bring my lifetime of experience in the private and public business sector. I want to hear from you. What are your ideas for a better Missouri, for better schools, for better roads, and all the other ways state government can serve the people of Missouri? I’m not running to be something. I’m running to do something. With your support we can make a difference. We can win this race.”

St. Charles, Mo. – As the General Assembly’s 2013 regular legislative session concluded Friday evening, the St. Charles County Democratic Central Committee voiced disappointment in the radically partisan priorities of the county’s Republican legislators.

“In 18 weeks in Jefferson City, Republican supermajorities defined their idea of thoughtful legislation by approving bills that were fiscally irresponsible, blatantly unconstitutional and totally inexplicable,” said Committee Chair Morton Todd. “The only people who came out ahead were the Republicans’ biggest donors.”

Moreover, Republicans repeatedly refused to consider the state’s best and easiest way to grow the economy: expanding Medicaid in order to return Missouri tax dollars to Missouri, generate $9.6 billion in new economic activity and provide health coverage to 300,000 additional Missourians.

“Despite more than 60 state and local business groups, including the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and the St. Charles County Economic Development Center, endorsing Gov. Nixon’s plan to strengthen Medicaid, the Republican supermajorities put politics first and repeatedly blocked this middle-of-the-road measure,” said Todd. “But what’s worse is that Republicans’ inaction directly leads to lower quality health care by removing $4 billion from hospitals’ bottom lines.”

The St. Charles County Democratic Central Committee represents the Missouri Democratic Party in St. Charles County and performs functions as required by the laws of the State of Missouri, the Charter and By-Laws of the Democratic Party of the United States, and the Constitution and By-Laws of the Missouri Democratic Party.

If the session’s top priority was indeed job creation, we fell short. There was work to be done, and we missed the mark in the substantive areas that will move Missouri forward: Job Creation, Education, Healthcare, Fair Employment Practices and Moving People out of Poverty.

Did you know that our public school teachers’ salaries rank 41st in the nation? While we did not cut dollars out of K-12 education, we did, underfund it by $439 million. We ignored the disparity between hold harmless and formula school districts, and while there was legislation to address it, we did not move it forward.

In the critical Turner v. Clayton decision, it was the courts, not the legislature, which took the next step. The ruling essentially stated that the transfer of students from unaccredited districts to accredited districts would amount to an unfunded mandate which would violate the state’s Hancock amendment. The decision is subject to appeal.

Did you know our Missouri state workers’ salaries are ranked 50th in the nation? These are people who guard our prisons, work with seniors and the disabled and serve the public throughout our state. The legislature passed a much-needed 2% raise for those making up to $70,000 per year.

Health care provisions through the affordable care act are already creating savings for our seniors on prescription medications. Young adult children are allowed to remain on parents’ insurance plans until age 26. Children and many adults with preexisting conditions are able to purchase insurance and receive needed treatment. Healthy living is encouraged through access to no co-pay preventative services. While many of us have been able to take advantage of these new provisions, the legislature continues to work to undermine these welcome changes.

This session, we have taken a stand that temporarily blocks our state from moving forward in the creation of an insurance exchange. Specifically, “no department, agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of this state shall apply for, accept or expend federal moneys related to the creation, implementation or operation of a state-based health insurance exchange or a federally-facilitated health benefit exchange unless such acceptance or expenditure is authorized by statute or an appropriations bill.” (Read the bill) An exchange will provide transparency. As you buy your insurance, isn’t it reasonable and helpful to be able to compare coverage…provision to provision? The legislature turned away approximately $100 million over the next two years which was to be used to upgrade our computer systems. Why? Because the funding would come from the federal government! And, because it might aid in upgrading our systems to allow us to implement the Affordable Care Act Exchange Provision. I believe that this federally-designated 100 million dollars is our money…yours and mine. The legislature thumbed its nose allowing these hard-earned dollars, our hard-earned dollars, to go to some other place or some other state.

Attacks on workers through reduction of culpability for work-place discrimination and lessening protections for whistle blowers were bills that moved forward. A female Senator who felt disrespected led an effort to end a bi partisan educational program helping women considering public service. Either through inaction or infighting, little that deals with the needs of our times moved to the fore for the tough decision- making required in tough times. The flurry of bills that gained traction in the eleventh hour included many designed to score political and talking points for upcoming elections in a year beginning the decade of newly formed house and senate districts.

And so, the end of this session was welcome. Based upon where we have been, it is clear that we need to start anew.

From Jill Schupp

State Representative in the old District 82 and unopposed for re-election in the new 88th district.

And with that, nothing was accomplished. Last Day of the MO House Legislation Session 2012

ALEC EXPOSED

The American Legislative Exchange Council brings together corporate sponsors and state legislators to write laws that push their privatization, “profit over people” agenda.

They want to “starve the beast,” which means drain the public treasury so we can’t pay for public education, social safety net programs, environmental protections, or anything else that increases opportunities for success. It’s no coincidence that the gap between the rich and the rest of us is the largest it’s been in 30 years. What you don’t know CAN hurt you.

As you know, the State Convention is the single largest gathering of Democrats in the State and a great celebration of our Party. This is an opportunity to bring Missouri Democrats together to work towards victory in November.

The State Convention is being held on Saturday, June 9 at the Lodge of Four Seasons at the Lake of the Ozarks. One of the most important events at the State Convention will be selecting the 19 At-Large delegates and 7 alternates to attend the 2012 Democratic National Convention inCharlotte, NC.

State convention activities will begin on June 9 with registration in the Marbella Ballroom in the main lodge building from 7:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. Registration will close promptly at 11 a.m. to allow time for seating of delegates. Delegates and alternates MUST be checked in by 11 a.m. to be seated for the convention. The Convention will convene at noon.

The State Convention kick-off party will take place on Friday June 8, 6 p.m-S p.m. in the main lodge. This is another way to get involved, network and show support for fellow Missouri Democrats. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance by visiting the website at missouridems.org. Tickets may also be purcbased at the door. We hope you will join us for this celebration!

If you require overnight accommodations, hotel reservations can be made at The Lodge of Four Seasons by calling 888-265-5500 or by visiting the Four Seasons website at 4seasonsresort.com.Please be sure to reference the Missouri Democratic Party.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call the Missouri Democratic Party at 573-636-5241 or send an email to Sara Ferrill at sferrill@missouridems.org.

The State Convention is a monumental undertaking that only happens through the foundation and commitment of our supporters. We look forward to seeing you at the state convention in June.

Missouri is a mixed state for chosing Presidential National Delegates depending on the Party. Republicans chose to go to the Caucus only system when they had a fall deadline with their Party to change the date to March or lose half their Delegates. They then chose the Caucus only system making their Primary a Beauty contest but they kept all their Delegates.

We Democrats chose to stick with the legal date of February 7th thus our Presidential Primary will decide the makeup of the votes for Delegate Selection based on the vote. The percentage of Delegates that each candidate received is based on the vote of the February 7th Presidential Primary. We have all 102 Delegates as given to us by the Democratic National Committee last year. The Delegates will be chosen starting with Mass Meeting Caucuses beginning March 29th at the Ward, Township and County level. Your local Committee Person is in charge of finding those locations. These will be announced in ads taken out in local newspapers by the State Party in March. The selection method will be as per the vote in each existing Congressional District in the February 7th Primary. You must vote in the February 7th Primary to be eligible to be elected as a local Delegate. A candidate must have 15% or more of the vote in each existing Congressional District to be viable. By existing I mean the 9 Districts we have now as the new 8 Congressional Districts do not take effect until January of 2013.

On April 26 we chose the first round of Presidential National Delegates at the Congressional Caucuses. I have been told by 1st Congressional District Chair, Gwen Reed, that their Caucus will be at UMSL and by 2nd Congressional Chair, CT Sharp, that theirs will be at Parkway West High. Specific rooms will follow soon. I have not heard yet from the 8th or 9th District Chairs where their Caucuses are being held. Those elected at the March 29th Caucus will vote for the National Delegates in their Congressional Caucus.

The final National Delegates will be chosen at the State Convention, which is a Caucus as well. Again the Delegates elected at the March 29th Caucus will be the ones voting for the National Delegates at this Convention and Caucus that is being held June 9th at the Lodge of the 4 Seasons at the Lake of the Ozarks. The makeup of the Delegates Chosen will be based on the February 7th Presidential Primary as a whole vote in Missouri. There will be other State Party business to be taken up at this event including election National Committee People to the Democratic National Committee for the next 4 years.

Just got back in from Jefferson City this morning. My name is Bill Otto, and let me be the first to tell you that I am running in the new 70th District of the Missouri House of Representatives. This rather large district includes parts of southern St. Charles and reaches across the river to Chesterfield and extends north into Hazelwood andBridgeton. This diverse district requires a deep commitment and a concerted effort to provide the representation to the Missouri House of Representatives that all the residents deserve. I believe that I am more than capable of this challenge and have filed to serve as representative in the November election.

I have deep roots in this new district. I lived in Bridgeton for 14 years where I served on City Council for 3 terms as well as numerous other city boards and commissions. My children attended Pattonville Schools where my wife, Kathy, and I assisted in various activities including the bond drive that helped build the new administrative building. I coached youth sports for both St. Lawrence Catholic Church and the Bridgeton Athletic Association where I also served on the board As a leader for Boys Scouts at Arlington United Methodist Church, I proudly watched as our youth learned, matured, and built community. My time on City Council gave me the opportunity to interact with the surrounding municipal governments, fire districts, and school boards which deepened my understanding of the needs of these communities. I currently serve on the St Charles Board of Adjustment as well as the St Peters Green Environmental & Solid Waste Advisory Committee. I grew up inSt Louis Countyand served two terms in the US Navy, returning to work at Lambert Airport, where I retired after 31 years as an air traffic controller. My home was acquired for airport expansion in 1999 and I have lived in St Charles County ever since.

I am a Democrat and I believe that the current leadership in the Missouri House has not lived up to the needs of our residents which makes me certain someone will offer an opposing view. My commitment to you in this election is to demonstrate to you who I am as a person and show you how I will represent you as a legislator so that you can determine if I deserve your trust and vote. There will be lots of negative campaigning prior to the election and I am committed to stay on message and will ask my opponent to do the same. I trust your judgment in deciding who is best to serve your interests and I am confident that as you get to know me, you will place your trust with me.

Thank you for reading and if you have any questions or advice, please do not hesitate to call or email me. I hope to meet you in person while I am knocking on doors in your neighborhood. If you would like to help, have ideas for my campaign, or would like to be on the email list for campaign updates, I would love to hear from you as well.

The dinner and awards banquet for all St. Charles Democrats is called First Capitol Dinner. This year is the 30th annual dinner. Please join us for appetizers, followed by a full dinner honoring all Democratic office holders and party activists for 2011 and 2012. Special guests and officials TBA. Great evening of fun and camaraderie for a very low price.

This year will be exciting because we have so many important campaigns (President, US Senator, Governor, Lt. Gov, Treasurer, Secretary of State, Attorney General, all State Reps, One State Senator, and County Council seats.

To order tickets or to ask any questions on the details of this event, please call Larry or Mary Laughlin at 636-272-0031. The ticket price for the entire evening of appetizers, full dinner plus beer and wine is still only $35. And for this year we’ve made it easy for you. You can pay for your tickets for First Capitol Dinner right here on the St. Charles County Democrats website. Just click on the donate button below and pay for your tickets with your charge card or your checking account all electronically.

If you know you want to go and don’t have any questions, and do not want to use the on-line donation button, mail your check for ticket purchase to : First Capitiol Days, LLC 1729 Forest Trace Dr., O’Fallon, MO 63368